Silent March, Loud Message

Taser Pensacola Police Friends and family said goodbye to a Pensacola teenager through a silent march. 17-year-old Victor Steen was killed by a police cruiser two weeks ago. His funeral was today but a march was held before the service.

by Chad Petri

Published: Sat, October 17, 2009 - 10:01 pm CST Last Updated: Sat, October 17, 2009 - 10:16 pm CST

PENSACOLA, Florida - Many of the people walking down Cervantes Street today, 10/17/09, were rolling their bicycles beside them. Clicking bike chains are one small reminder of Victor Steen. He was killed while riding his bike late at night at the corner of R and Cervantes Streets two weeks ago.

“I'm just standing out on my brother, whatever they put together I'm coming, even if it takes the last breath in my body, whatever they hold for my brother I'm going to be here,” says Victor’s sister Fatina Dupree as she choked back tear’s before Saturday’s demonstration. She’s is one of dozens of people marching along Cervantes Street to the funeral. It’s a gesture that's impressed a grieving family.

“Many times it has happened and nobody stood up, nobody said anything but this time it's good to see and it's not just one color,” says Dupree. Many of the people who gathered for the march say today is both a solemn day and a day of solidarity.

“We will be calling upon the Attorney General of the United States, Mr. Eric Holder and the Justice Department to come to Pensacola quickly and swiftly,” says President and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Byron Clay. Members of the SCLC helped organize the march. They say their silent protest is also meant to rally the community

“We're here today, to let people know if you saw what happened, come forward now, get on the record,” says SCLC legal council Dexter Wimbisch. This is becoming a cause victor's friends won't soon forget.

“He died for no reason he died over a reason that was ridiculous,” says Victor’s friend Renea Roby. The crowd walked quietly more than a mile to the greater Little Rock Baptist Church. Officer Jerald Ard was placed on paid administrative leave after his patrol car killed Victor Steen. No one from the police department could update us on his status today. The incident changed the Pensacola Police Department’s Taser policy.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 10:02 pm

Hey,the officer got a paid vacation out of it!

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rolltide33 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:35 pm

Well heck RM, if everybody obeyed the law then we wouldn’t need police officers now would we? Fact is people break the law and we have law enforcers. these law enforcers must conduct themselves in a manner that protect life, limb, and property. In this intance, that was not the case. To say “well if the criminal would not have acted like a criminal then he wouldn’t be dead” is a little naiive in my book. But hey, to each his own. I am sure that the officer’s actions will be scrutinized and hopefully he will be properly heald accountable for any wrong doings.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:20 pm

Fair enough. I will maintain my opinion though,that a “chase” would not have been warranted had he stopped to begin with. That simple in my opinion.

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rolltide33 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:14 pm

RM - you know that I respect your opinions. I will not argue that this or any suspect should or shouldn’t be aprehended. I only argue that in this case the manner in which he was “chased” was not proper and therefore resulted in his death.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:12 pm

Sorry-suspect-not criminal. I would certainly hate to stereotype.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:08 pm

I will say this with 100% certainty-no fleeing criminal has ever been caught,that was up to any good. EVERY fleeing criminal has more to hide than what they were originally stopped for.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:05 pm

Do we know the distance? Do we know that the officers vehicle was rolling when he attempted to tase? To date,it has not to my knowledge even been stated whether the tasing was successful. Do we know the kid didn’t crash his bike because he tried to jump the curb? Do we know that the kid was even paying attention to where he was going,or was he so intent on running,that granny could have hit him? There are many UNKNOWNS in this case. The only factual KNOWNS are that the officer attempted to talk to the kid at 200am on a school night,at a construction site where he had no business being, the kid ran, and the officer pursued. Innocent people DO NOT run. You can second guess the cop all day long. But the real second guessing should come from why a 17 year old is out in the middle of the night, a school night, at a construction site,then wants to run from the cops…..jmo

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rolltide33 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Which is EXACTLY why the officer should have followed (chased) at a safer distance… especially when “driving while tasing”.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 8:21 pm

It does not take much speed,even just rolling-can cause injuries that are not life compatible…..

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rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 8:17 pm

HaHa rolltide!